Leo Sher, M.D. 

My review article, “The impact of relationships within combat units on post-deployment suicide risk” has been published in Behavioral Sciences (1). This is the first review of the relation between interactions within combat entities and post-deployment suicidality in world literature. A summary of my review is below:

“Multiple deployment factors may affect suicidality in combat veterans. The relationships between combat deployments and suicidality are complex and not completely understood. Studies of stress in the military and psychological effects of military actions are mostly focused on stressors relating to combat operations. However, many studies suggest that interactions within combat units affect post-deployment psychiatric conditions, suicidal ideation, and behavior. The goal of this article is to review and discuss how relationships within combat units may influence post-deployment suicide risk. Studies of the relationships within combat units are generally focused on two aspects: unit cohesion and harassment/abuse. Considerable evidence suggests that service members who report strong unit cohesion have a lower risk of post-deployment psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Studies examining deployment sexual and non-sexual harassment and abuse have found that combat veterans who experience harassment and abuse during deployment are at heightened post-deployment suicide risk. Sound post-deployment social support and the efficient treatment of psychiatric disorders may mitigate the suicide risk associated with adverse relationships within combat units. Improvements in units’ cohesion and the prevention of harassment/abuse during a military deployment are necessary to reduce post-deployment psychiatric pathology, including suicidal behavior.”

It should be noted that we have recently published a research report, “Interplay of combat deployment harassment, testosterone concentrations and post-deployment suicide risk in male veterans” (2). In this study, we found that more severe harassment was associated with higher post-deployment suicidality and lower free testosterone levels.

Reference

1. Sher L. The impact of relationships within combat units on post-deployment suicide risk. Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Nov 5;14(11):1040. doi: 10.3390/bs14111040.
2. Sher L, Bierer LM, Flory J, Makotkine I, Yehuda R. Interplay of combat deployment harassment, testosterone concentrations and post-deployment suicide risk in male veterans. Acta Neuropsychiatr.  2024 Jun;36(3):167-171. doi: 10.1017/neu.2024.12. Epub 2024 Mar 26.